Gap closing device



Feb. 5, 1946: E. ST. PIERRE v 2,394,339

GAP CLOSING DEVICE Filed Oct. 14, 1944 B ma Patented Feb. 5, 1946 GAP CLOSING DEVICE Eugene St. Pierre, Pawtucket, R. I., assignor to Hemphill Company, Central Falls, It. I., a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 14, 1944, Serial No. 558,757

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in gap closers for circular, independent latch needle knitting machines. In machines of this type there are a plurality of parallel yarn levers for feeding and withdrawing the various yarns. There is an opening or throat in the carrier ring through which the feeding ends of these yarn levers may move vertically into and out of feeding position.

For the same purpose there is a corresponding gap in the latch ring which lines the carrier ring. During reciprocatory knitting this gap in the latch ring is dangerous to the latches of the needles in the upper or inactive group. The latches of these needles are likely to be thrown out by centrifugal force into this gap since they are not otherwise restrained and if this happens they are almost certain to be bent or broken. Consequently, it has been customary to provide machines of this character with a device for closing this gap during reciprocatory knitting and at certain other times, the closing device serving as a latch guard to keep open the latches of the inactive needles during reciprocatory knitting without interfering with the operation of Gap closer 5 extends beyond carrier ring I as indicated at 8. The end of this extension is provided with a coupling 9 for a Bowden cable or other connection 10 the other end of which is connected to a coupling ll pivotally mounted on the end of a lever I2. Lever l2 represents the mechanism by which the gap closer 5 is pulled out against the tension of spring I3 which supplied the motive power for moving it into operating'position. Operating mechanism I2 includes, of course, the required device for timing the operation of the gap closer in the desired way. Normally the gap closer 5 will be across the active needles or the yarn lever or levers used to feed them.

A device of this character is disclosed in Patent #1,883,990. The device of this invention is generally similar although different in detail and operated by an entirely different mechanism.

One form is shown in the drawing of which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a carrier ring, latch ring and gap closer embodying this invention; and- Fig. 2 is an elevation partly in section of the same device viewed from inside the latch ring.

The carrier ring is indicated by the numeral I and its threat by the numeral 2. Within carrier ring I is a latch ring 3 having an opening or gap 4. The carrier ring and latch ring are slotted as shown in the drawing to provide a channel within which gap closer 5 is slidably fitted. It is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in its inward operating position bridging the gap 4 in latch ring 3. As shown in Fig. 2 there is a space 6 below gap closer 5 suitable to accommodate the yarn lever or levers utilized for feeding yarn to the active needles during reciprocatory knitting. The gap above is closed by gap closer 5 as shown in the figures and in this position keeps the latches of the inactive needles open and prevents them from being swung out by centrifugal action so that they might strike the ends of the throat or gap. Preferably, the face I of gap closer 5, corresponding to the inside of the latch ring 3, is fiat and shaped to an arc corresponding with the curvature of the latch ring so that when it is in operating position it completes the latch ring circle as shown in Fig. 1.

the gap 4 of the latch ring during reciprocatory knitting but it can be made to bridge the gap at any other desired time.

The particular latch ring illustrated herein is that disclosed in co-pending application #557,188, filed October 4, 1944, which, to move out of operating position, rises vertically instead of swinging. The inoperative position of this carrier ring is indicated in broken line in Fig. 2. Preferably, the elevation of the end of lever 12 to which coupling II is attached is mid-way between the two positions of carrier ring I as shown in Fig. 2. It will be noted that when the carrier ring moves from its operative to its inoperative position the connection simply swings with it and that gap closer 5, shown across the gap, remains in that position. During this movement of the carrier ring there may be a slight movement of the gap closer but this is too small to affect its operation. Regardless of the position of gap closer 5 at any given time itis substantially maintained throughout any movement of carrier ring I.

Obviously, the length of cable Hi can be varied very widely to accommodate the device most conveniently to the knitting machine without affecting its mode of operation. In this way, the former need of lever systems carefully coordinated with the carrier ring motion is eliminated in favor of an extremely simple, and inexpensive mechanism which maintains the gap closer in any desired position irrespective of movements of the carrier ring and which has no required fixed position with respect to the carrier ring.

I claim:

For a knitting machine, a movable latch ring having a gap, a member movable to and fro across said gap and'means for moving said gapcloser in one direction adapted to be mounted upon the knitting machine in any desired position in approximate alignment with said gap closer and means connecting said moving means and said gap closer capable of maintaining said gap closer substantially in a predetermined position with respect to the said gap irrespective of movement of said latch ring.

EUGENE ST. PIERRE. 

